by AmyD | Aug 30, 2018 | Communication, Leadership, Success
Are you a leader who manages people? The answer can determine how effective you are as a leader. Employees aren’t robots. They’re people with feelings and emotions. Emotionally aware leaders balance the day-to-day work and their employees’ engagement. Their success is often a direct correlation with adaptable thinking. According to a report from the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, the benefits emotional leaders receive in the workplace are higher employee retention rates, greater commitment, and better results. In short, an emotional leader is a beacon of light to others they lead.
How can a leader not only navigate the landscape of multiple personalities and emotions, but put it to use? First, it requires decoding emotions and an understanding of visual cues. In addition, the leader will need to be able to communicate differently to individuals based on their personality styles.
Effective leaders incorporate emotion by using these four skill sets:
Leaders who are aware of their emotional state are able to control their egos. Participating in activities that assist in finding mental clarity such as meditation, hiking, reading, or exercising, leaders become more connected to themselves by disconnecting to the world around them. This allows them to look inward for perspective. Leaders who are self-aware also see clearly the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and those they lead. They can perceive emotions and address problems more thoroughly. This clarity helps master egos which is important to leading effectively.
Leaders who are aware of their emotions are better equipped to manage them. When leaders are in control of their emotions, they know how they react to others. They do not fly off the handle or make hasty decisions. Emotional leaders are aware of the impact of their own emotions on others and manage those emotions accordingly. Focusing and practicing being in the present can assist with self-management of emotions. Journaling and paying attention to one’s inner self talk is another helpful means of self-management of emotions.
Leaders who are self-aware and manage their emotions, also have the ability to pick up on others’ emotional cues. This skill is important for impactful leadership. When leaders are socially aware, they are more likely to understand the employees’ point of view and emotional response. They are also able to tailor their feedback based upon their awareness of the person’s emotional state. Leaders do this by watching, listening, and discovering others’ cues.
Leaders combine communication and team building to manage conflict and inspire employees. Clear communication is imperative, but so is understanding and empathy. Employing self-awareness, self-management, and social-awareness assists in achieving the balance within the leaders’ communication. Leaders who employ this style of communication will find it easier to cultivate relationships naturally thus reducing conflict within their team.
As already discussed, emotional leaders are present in the moment. They are connected to their feelings and have a clarity about their purpose. They keep their ego in check. With their connection to self, emotional leaders will be open to others’ emotional states. They can provide support to others whether they are doing well or struggling.
In contrast, when leaders avoid connecting to emotions, they may feel more in control, but it can have a negative impact on the organization. Control is ego driven and does not take people into consideration. As Richard Rose stated, “Ego is the single biggest obstruction to the achievement of anything.”
The Harvard Business Review, Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries talks about four toxic leadership styles. All four are deeply rooted in promoting the leader’s ego. These can be alleviated by being a leader that understands both verbal and non-verbal emotional cues.
- Narcissist. This leadership style involves an inconsiderate and selfish leader who puts their need above others for attention. These types of leaders are prone to belittling others. They are self-centered so everything must be about them. Thus, they are often exploitive.
- Manic-depressive. This leader has a way of swinging back and forth between highs and lows. These types of leaders create an environment of uncertainty. There is no middle ground with these types of leaders. For example, they may draw people to them when experiencing a high. When experience a low, these leaders blame others which comes as a surprise when experienced for the first time. While manic-depression can be an illness, it can also be a leadership style.
- Passive aggressive. This leadership style avoids confrontation even when it is staring them in the face. They express emotions, but only indirectly. With low self-esteem, they may miss deadlines and procrastinate. These types of leaders will undermine projects and blame others. They will become defense when confronted and are often contradictory. They will agree with an idea to avoid confrontation, but will sabotage it one way or another.
- Emotional disconnected. These leaders struggle to read emotional cues of others, and they have a flat manner. They often are matter of fact in their responses and appear apathetic. Their team may view them as detached and caring only about work or the job.
Emotional leaders will need to be aware of their impact on others. Exercising your mind each day to not only remain keen and precise, but also adaptable, as rigid thinking limits your paths to success. Avoiding those four toxic leadership styles will also help strengthen you as a successful leader.
Reach out to me, AmyD the Peak Performance Expert and Trainer, if you want to learn how you can transition to an emotional leader! Email me today, [email protected].
by AmyD | Jun 26, 2018 | Addiction, Choices, Emotions, Faith
Personal branding is a way of signaling to others what your unique identity, vision and values are. It’s an authentic revelation of all the things you have to offer the world.
What happens when those values or aspirations change? What happens, and how do we take the next step in our personal or professional growth? That’s where rebranding comes in.
To rebrand is to realign ourselves and our goals by harnessing new, revitalized energy. We grant ourselves new possibilities, new inspirations, and new joys. Simply put, to rebrand means to evolve.
Many people are afraid of change, even though it’s an instinctual, bioenergetic process that’s required for our spiritual growth. We are beings made of energy. We’re driven to evolve. Just like the energy that comprises us, we are constantly in motion. When we harness that powerful, catabolic potential we discover this exciting fact: that we are in an upward-trending spiral toward our highest calling.
Rebranding involves opening yourself up to new opportunities with optimism, and this mindset attracts the very best things in life. Whether it’s a new set of dedicated clients, a new service that’s in alignment with our deepest-held values, or a stronger, more supportive networking circle, we rebrand because we’re working toward something greater than we imagined before.
Energy is just like that. In an earlier blog post, I explain how altering your mindset can physically change your reality, even your biological makeup! This is exactly what rebranding does. An example of this is the branded color scheme. Branded colors are evocative of the emotional energy that’s authentic to your identity and your mission. When chosen wisely, these colors transform the attitudes of everyone who comes in contact with your brand and attracts likeminded, positive energy.
The power suit is another example of this phenomenon. A power suit is a tailored, signature work outfit meant to exude a strong sense of leadership. When you put on your power suit, you feel more confident and successful, which in turn transforms you into a person who is actually – not just potentially – confident and successful beyond their wildest dreams.
People will often rebrand themselves because their old ways of self-marketing aren’t working. Rebranding, however, is more than just a way of attracting better business. An authentic personal brand has the power to attract all the positive resources in the universe. When you change your energy, you change your material reality.
That is the purpose and magic behind rebranding. If you’re ready to embrace change, reach out to me, Amy D, Peak Performance Expert. We’ll begin that journey today!
by AmyD | Feb 7, 2018 | Leadership
Bill Clinton once said, “The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.” At the time, he was speaking about his actions as President of the United States. However, Clinton’s words ring true in many professions. Although changing leadership may be stressful, it can actually provide more room for your organization to grow.
As the football season comes to a close, many teams will see a shuffle in coaches and players. Usually, this is looked upon as a negative thing because many players, and fans, become attached to their coaches and accustomed to their way of doing things. However, shuffling coaches and leadership introduces new creative energy into an organization’s environment and can actually lead to success for the team in the long run.
In my recent blog post, I talked about Chicago Cubs coach Joe Maddon [link to that blog], his positive energy, and how it impacted the Cubs upon his acceptance of his leadership role. Maddon’s new energy and approach led the team to the World Series for the first time in 108 years. This same idea transfers to any sports team or leadership position.
Consider Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. He took the position of head coach with the team in 2007. “I think regardless of who they hire to be head coach they expect him to lead, and part of leading is being prepared to do things that you feel strongly about,” during the interview process with the Steelers. When he was hired, he became the third head coach the team has had since 1969.
When Tomlin, 34 at the time, became the Steelers’ head coach, many people thought he might drastically change the team’s defense. The team has excelled with the changes he’s made. There was, and is, something different about Tomlin that helps him click with his team.
One year later, in 2008, he became the youngest coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl, making history. Since then, he’s led the Steelers to two additional Super Bowls and countless victories. Throughout the years, he has always kept a winner’s mindset, and his energy has continued to help the Steelers succeed.
“I think football is a tough-man’s game, it’s an attrition game,” Tomlin said in 2007 when he signed with the Steelers. “You win by stopping the run and being able to run the ball effectively — and doing the things winners do — being a detailed-oriented football team, playing with great passion and executing.”
There are a number of rumors about what coaches will be swapped this year. Some of the top picks for coaching shuffles include New England Patriots’, Matt Patricia. Even though the team landed a spot in the Super Bowl this year, other teams are looking at Patricia to potentially bring new, winning energy to their coaching staff.
Another fantastic example of how shuffling leadership can lead to fresh, new energy and success is Delta Airlines. Ed Bastian became the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Delta Airlines in May 2016. Since then, the company has grown and it is continuing to change with the market’s needs, thanks to the flexibility and creative energy of Bastian.
He has been with Delta since 1998, minus a six-month stint at Acuity Brands, so there is no doubt he knows what he’s doing. However, Bastian’s energy and the way he leads the company is what truly leads to Delta’s overall success. The most recent change the company has made is an attempt to make international travel more affordable, and essentially make Delta more competitive with cheaper transatlantic airline carriers.
Adding new, creative energy into the mix can make a huge difference. For the Steelers, it meant two Super Bowl appearances in two years. For the Cubs, introducing Maddon’s new energy meant winning the World Series. For some companies like Delta, introducing new energy and ideas keep the company competitive.
Consider what your organization has to gain from introducing new creative energy. Allow me to help you bring that winning energy into your daily routine, team, or office. Schedule an exploratory call with me today!
by AmyD | Feb 2, 2018 | mindset, Sports Performance
“Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” – Bill Bradley
Have you ever considered the way leadership has shaped your life? The words and ideas placed in your mind by individuals you look to for guidance and support can have a profound impact on your everyday life and overall success.
Consider the Chicago Cubs’ World Series win in 2016. When Joe Maddon became the team’s manager in 2015, he approached the players with positivity opposed to the negative remarks many other managers and coaches offer players. Because Maddon pushed positivity and encouraged his players to have the “I am a winner” mindset, they had the most successful season they’d seen in more than a century.
Maddon did this with the help of Mental Training Coach Josh Liftrak, who joined the Cubs leadership in 2014. Liftrak created a mindset training program for the team to help push through barriers. He and Maddon focused on emphasizing that each player has a choice. Each day you choose to be the human being that you want to be. You also choose to stay awake and find a way to be aware and be the very best you can be.
Liftrak’s mindset coaching has three parts: Courage, Urgency, and Belief. By this, Liftrak means players have been mentally trained to have the courage to do the right thing at the right time. Urgency refers to the desire to get better right now and not put it off until tomorrow, or the next day. The biggest part of the Cubs’ mental training is the Belief portion of the training. Liftrak and Maddon both pushed their player to believe in themselves, their teammates, and their training.
The leadership team helped implant the “I am a winner” mindset into the players with this approach. The payoff was the Cubs at the World Series for the first time in 108 years.
By using their positions of power to spread positive energy, they were successful in reaching their goals. While you don’t need positive energy to be a leader, you do need it to lead successfully. The energy of the entire business or team you lead is impacted by the type of energy you are bringing to the table. If you are constantly negative, your employees and players will be too. They won’t likely believe in themselves, their work, or the goals of the team if you don’t depict positive energy surrounding the team’s goals.
Maddon will likely be seen as one of the best sports leaders of all time when his career is over. By leading with a positive energy, Maddon led the team to what seemed unimaginable prior to his arrival – a World Series victory. He plans to continue this method of managing the team entering the 2018 season. Maddon has been awarded MLB Manager of the Year three times. It has been predicted that he will be named to the MLB Manager Hall of Fame as well, especially if he leads the Cubs into another successful season. The Cubs manager said they are going into spring training and beyond with “energy and enthusiasm.”
All in all, successful leaders constantly emanate voices of positivity and perseverance. Whether you are on the field, on the court, or in the office leading with good energy can make all the difference in the world. If your goal is to be a constructive and successful leader, schedule an exploratory consultation with me today.
About AmyD
Amy D is the President of AmyD.Me, CEO of Choose Evolution Coaching Solutions, INC, and Founder of Follow the Leader Movement. As a master of many modalities, she’s combined IPEC Coaching and Energy Leadership with practices in meditation and spirituality for a unique approach to obtaining results. Am is also a Bio-Energetic Practitioner with 20 years in energy medicine. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and Bachelors in Psychology, Behavioral Modification and is an Ordained Minister of Kingdom Communications. Amy with Professional Athletes, CEOs, High Achievers to remove all limitations that get in their way to ultimate success.
*Information about the Cubs, Coach Maddon and Josh Liftrak comes from http://www.cindrakamphoff.com/joshlifrak/.
by AmyD | Mar 15, 2017 | Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Success
A little over a month ago, Nike and Jordan brand released their 2017 Black History Month (BHM) collection. The design is breathtaking, highlighted by a bold yet sleek blend of color and texture symbolizing strength, harmony, and unity.
Why am I talking about shoes? Because for me, Nike’s annual BHM collection is a reminder of my personal mantra. Be the positive reflection you want to see in the world.
This advice is what I pass on to my clients as well. I mentor some of the most elite people in the world, from CEOs to professional athletes. Like the people behind Nike and Jordan brand, my clients are in a powerful position to use their creative vision to change the world for the better. You can too. Here’s how.
Expand Your Vision
Years ago, the BHM collection started from just one Nike Air Force 1 to an entire product line. The BHM collection’s message has also evolved over time, expanding from the celebration of black athletic accomplishments to the overall legacy of black leadership and achievement. Now, the collection also provides charity support with Nike’s Ever Higher Fund, and encourages others to create positive change within and beyond their communities.
You too can start small, planting a seed of positive impact and continuing to nurture it until its reaches its fruition!
Sow The Seeds Of Your Future
Even the most successful among us know that it is not enough to accumulate strictly material wealth. We, as interconnected human beings, wonder whether we are using our God-given talents to make a lasting difference in the world. Like many of my clients you are probably deeply invested in your legacy, of leaving the world a better place than when you entered it.
To achieve that, you have to re-frame your old ideas about success. True abundance, as opposed to purely material success, is all-enveloping. By committing yourself to charitable or philanthropic ventures, you ensure that your legacy is one marked by vision and inspiration. You becomes the positive reflection you want to see in the world, long after you leave it.
That’s why it is so important to prepare yourself for such a future, right here and right now.
Be A True Leader
As many professional athletes will attest, sports isn’t just about “the game.” It’s also about being a living inspiration. It’s about acting as a mirror that reflects the virtues of leadership, cooperation and dedication to a dream. The world feeds off that positive energy, creating a motivating ripple effect.
Philanthropic, charitable entrepreneurship is one way of securing your legacy as a role model and a visionary. The professional athletes who donate their time and resources to strengthen their communities are ensuring that their influence is spread far and wide.
The BHM collection is just one example of how professional athletes, marketers, businesspeople and non-profits can come together for the common goal of bettering the world. You too can be one of those leaders whose vision and legacy impacts every person you come in contact with. Learn more about my Energy Assessments for Leaders today to see where your heart is aligned, and how you can make this dream happen.
